American Masters » Watch Full Episodeshttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters
A series examining the lives, works, and creative processes of outstanding artists.Mon, 02 Mar 2015 22:59:32 +0000http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4enhourly1August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand: Full Filmhttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/august-wilson-the-ground-on-which-i-stand/full-film/3727/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/august-wilson-the-ground-on-which-i-stand/full-film/3727/#commentsSat, 21 Feb 2015 13:52:58 +0000knightchttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/?p=3727(View full post to see video)American Masters — August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand premiered Friday, February 20 at 9 p.m. on PBS to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Wilson’s birth, the 10th anniversary of his death and Black History Month. This first documentary about the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning playwright August Wilson (1945 – 2005) includes new interviews with film and stage luminaries and his family, scenes from his award-winning plays, and more.

Learn more about the making of the film on our film preview page and access additional information, web-exclusive videos and educational resources via the index on the right side of this page.

]]>http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/august-wilson-the-ground-on-which-i-stand/full-film/3727/feed/0Ricky Jay: Deceptive Practice: Watch Full Film: Ricky Jay: Deceptive Practicehttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/ricky-jay-deceptive-practice/watch-full-film-ricky-jay-deceptive-practice/3680/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/ricky-jay-deceptive-practice/watch-full-film-ricky-jay-deceptive-practice/3680/#commentsSat, 24 Jan 2015 06:53:57 +0000knightchttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/?p=3680(View full post to see video)
For the first time, the American Masters series profiles a magician: the inimitable Ricky Jay, considered one of the world’s greatest conjurers, capable of creating a profound sense of wonder and disbelief in even the most jaded of audiences. He is also a best-selling author, historian, actor and a leading collector of antiquarian books and artifacts.

Narrated by Dick Cavett, American Masters — Ricky Jay: Deceptive Practice weaves together new interviews with Jay, his friends and collaborators, including writer/director David Mamet, and rare performance footage from his one-man shows and classic TV appearances, among them a hilarious turn with Steve Martin on Dinah Shore’s 1970s program. Filmmakers Molly Bernstein (editor, American Masters — Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About) and Alan Edelstein (Oscar-nominated producer, The Wizard of Strings) explore the arduous demands of the magician’s craft, the use of language and storytelling central to the art, and this ancient tradition’s future.

Bing Crosby (May 3, 1903-October 14, 1977) was, without doubt, the most popular and influential multi-media star of the first half of the 20th century. For more than three decades, through radio, film, television and records, he reigned supreme.

Explore the life and legend of this iconic entertainer through never-before-seen footage and interviews with his immediate family, song writers and Tony Bennett. Narrated by Stanley Tucci, this documentary reveals a man far more complex than his public persona.

From the time of its birth, the baby boomer generation (1946-1964) has significantly and uniquely changed our world. 2014 marks an important shift in American culture, as the last boomers turn 50.

American Masters: The Boomer List, premiering nationwide Tuesday, September 23, 9-10:30 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), tells the story of this influential generation through the lives of 19 iconic boomers—one born each year of the baby boom:

Her celebrated photograph Migrant Mother is one of the most recognized and arresting images in the world, a haunting portrait that came to represent the suffering of America’s Great Depression. Yet few know the story, struggles and profound body of work of the woman who created the portrait: Dorothea Lange (May 26, 1895 — Oct. 11, 1965).

American Masters — Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning premiering nationwide Friday, August 29 at 9-11 pm on PBS (check local listings) explores the life, passions and uncompromising vision of the influential photographer, whose enduring images document five turbulent decades of American history, including the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl and World War II Japanese internment camps. Peabody- and five-time Emmy award-winning cinematographer Dyanna Taylor — the granddaughter of Lange and writer/social scientist Paul Schuster Taylor — directs and narrates this intimate American Masters documentary.

Taylor, who learned to see the visual world through her grandmother’s eyes, combines family memories and journals with never-before-seen photos and film footage to bring Lange’s story into sharp focus. The result is a personal documentary of the artist whose empathy for people on the margins of society challenged America to know itself.

American Masters — Tanaquil Le Clercq: Afternoon of a Faun premieres nationally Friday, June 20, 10-11:30 p.m. on PBS (check local listings, New York metro area at 9 p.m. on THIRTEEN).

Of all the great ballerinas, Tanaquil Le Clercq (1929–2000), known as “Tanny,” was surely among the most transcendent. With a body unlike any before hers, she mesmerized viewers and choreographers alike as principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, and became a muse to both her husband George Balanchine and friend Jerome Robbins. Then, at age 27 and the height of her fame, Le Clercq was paralyzed by polio; she never danced again. Emmy- and Peabody-winning filmmaker Nancy Buirski (The Loving Story) brings Tanny’s poignant story to the screen for the first time in American Masters — Tanaquil Le Clercq: Afternoon of a Faun, premiering nationally Friday, June 20, 10-11:30 p.m. on PBS (check local listings, New York metro area at 9 p.m. on THIRTEEN).

To illustrate Tanny’s personality, exquisite dancing and long, racehorse physique, which became the new prototype for Balanchine’s ballet dancers, the film uses photos, home movies and kinescopes, including a rare recording of her voice. American Masters — Tanaquil Le Clercq: Afternoon of a Faun also features new interviews with those who knew her, including fellow New York City Ballet dancers Jacques d’Amboise and Arthur Mitchell and friends Randy Bourscheidt (former president of the Alliance for the Arts), Barbara Horgan (Balanchine’s long-time assistant), and Pat McBride Lousada (former dancer). These first-hand stories combined with evocative music and archival footage reveal how one woman influenced an entire art form and sparked the creative imagination and adoration of two of its most prolific, renowned creators.

“Tanny was the nexus of inspiration, beauty and invention, suddenly turned into a statistic. I wanted to treat her dramatic experience as poetry and create an intimate film that captured this mood,” said writer, director and producer Nancy Buirski. “I’m thrilled Tanny will join Balanchine and Robbins — the men she inspired — as ‘American Masters.’”

“I’m eager for our viewers to discover Tanny and her inspiring life story,” said Michael Kantor, executive producer of American Masters. “Films like Nancy’s are what make the series unique. Masters are not just the names you know, but the creators, performers and industry titans who leave an indelible impact on our culture.”

A DVD will be available June 24 from Kino Lorber. The documentary had its world premiere at the 51st New York Film Festival and was an official selection at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival.

Launched in 1986 by series creator Susan Lacy, American Masters has earned 26 Emmy Awards — including nine for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series since 1999 and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special — 12 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards, and many other honors. Now in its 28th season on PBS, the series is a production of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET. WNET is the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21, New York’s public television stations, and operator of NJTV. For more than 50 years, THIRTEEN has been a partner with the tri-state community, using its rich resources to inform and inspire the passionate people of New York and the world to better understand and address the issues that challenge our diverse communities.

To take American Masters beyond the television broadcast and further explore the themes, stories and personalities of masters past and present, the companion website offers streaming video of select films, interviews, photos, outtakes, essays, and other resources. American Masters is also seen on the WORLD channel, a 24/7, full-service multicast channel featuring public television’s signature nonfiction documentary, science and news programming, broadcast in nearly two-thirds of the United States.

Tanaquil Le Clercq: Afternoon of a Faun is a production of Augusta Films in association with Steeplechase films and THIRTEEN Productions LLC’s American Masters for WNET. Nancy Buirski is writer, director and producer. Ric Burns is producer. Damian Rodriguez is editor. Rick Rodgers is director of photography. Martin Scorsese is project advisor. Barbara Horgan is consultant. Derek Britt, Krysanne Katsoolis and Susan Lacy are executive producers. For American Masters: Michael Kantor is executive producer and Stephen Segaller is executive-in-charge.

American Masters is made possible by the support of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding for American Masters is provided by Rosalind P. Walter, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, Rolf and Elizabeth Rosenthal, Jack Rudin, Vital Projects Fund, The André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation, and public television viewers. Funding for Tanaquil Le Clercq: Afternoon of a Faun is provided by The Ford Foundation, Ed Lewis and Carolyn Wright-Lewis, the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works, David Baldwin, Ged Doherty, Elise Jaffe and Jeffrey Brown, Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Jerome Robbins Foundation, The Lewis “Sonny” Turner Fund for Dance, Georg Jensen, David Moynehan, Nancy Lassalle, Kim Brizzolara, and Nancy Cohen Roberts.

Watch Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself

Famed participatory journalist George Plimpton (1927–2003) was a writer, editor, amateur sportsman, actor, and friend to many. Plimpton’s remarkable life is showcased in a documentary that is both a chronicle of one of the last century’s most intriguing characters, as well as a cinematic adaption of his nuanced and funny literary style.

Using Plimpton’s own narration, new interviews with friends, family and contemporaries, and extensive archival material, the film creates a compelling portrait of a one-of-a-kind person who lived fully, strangely and incredibly. Plimpton co-founded and worked as the editor of influential literary magazine The Paris Review for 50 years (1953-2003). The Paris Review and Plimpton’s widow Sarah Dudley Plimpton, granted filmmakers Tom Bean and Luke Poling full access to George’s private archives, including previously unseen material.

Aside from his work at The Paris Review, Plimpton wrote for Sports Illustrated; hung out with U.S. presidents and was part of the Kennedys’ inner circle; played quarterback for the Detroit Lions; got Willie Mays to pop out in Yankee Stadium; photographed Playboy models; played goalie for the Boston Bruins; performed with the New York Philharmonic; boxed against light-heavyweight champion Archie Moore; acted alongside John Wayne, Warren Beatty and Matt Damon; and authored more than 15 books, including Out of My League (1961), Paper Lion (1966) and The Bogey Man (1967). Some of Plimpton’s DIY journalism stunts were turned into primetime network television films, including his circus flying trapeze act, African wildlife photography for Life magazine, and attempt at stand-up comedy.

Sharing these experiences and more, American Masters: Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself is about football, literature, magazines, fireworks, hockey, movies, presidents, lawn chairs, geniuses, and the true tall tale that brought them all together. Featured interviews include Robert Kennedy, Jr.; Hugh Hefner; Gay Talese; Graydon Carter; Ken Burns; Ric Burns; James Lipton; The Paris Review co-founder and childhood friend Peter Matthiessen; Sports Illustrated Media Group editor and The Paris Review board member Terry McDonell; former The Paris Review editor and founder/editor of The New York Review of Books Robert Silvers; novelists James Salter and Jay McInerney; his widow Sarah; children Medora and Taylor; siblings Oakes and Sarah Gay; and first wife Freddy Plimpton.

“George’s life was about seeking out and trying new things, regardless of the outcome. And as an artist, his life was his greatest work of art,” said co-director, co-writer and co-producer Tom Bean. “We hope Plimpton! inspires audiences to find that adventurous spirit within themselves and the desire to live life to the fullest.”

“For the uninitiated, we hope our introduction makes new audiences fall in love with George Plimpton. For the people who knew and read him, we hope our movie brings him and his joie de vivre back for 90 minutes,” added co-director, co-writer and co-producer Luke Poling (Twelve).

“George Plimpton was a deft curator of the literary elite via The Paris Review, the cultural elite via his storied parties and, above all, the human experience,” said Stephen Segaller, executive-in-charge of American Masters and vice president of programming for WNET. “Who’d have thought a man nicknamed ‘Mr. Zero’ would also be called an ‘American Master’?”

Launched in 1986 by series creator Susan Lacy, American Masters has earned 26 Emmy Awards — including nine for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series since 1999 and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special — 12 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards, and many other honors. Now in its 28th season on PBS, the series is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET. WNET is the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21,New York’s public television stations, and operator of NJTV. For more than 50 years, THIRTEEN has been a partner with the tri-state community, using its rich resources to inform and inspire the passionate people ofNew York and the world to better understand and address the issues that challenge our diverse communities.

To take American Masters beyond the television broadcast and further explore the themes, stories and personalities of masters past and present, the companion website (http://pbs.org/americanmasters) offers streaming video of select films, interviews, photos, outtakes, essays, and other resources. American Masters is also seen on the WORLD channel, a 24/7, full-service multicast channel featuring public television’s signature nonfiction documentary, science and news programming, broadcast in nearly two-thirds of the United States.

Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself is a production of Laemmle / Zeller Films in association with Joyce Entertainment and The Offices of SPECTRE. Tom Bean and Luke Poling are directors, writers and producers. Terry McDonnell and Adam Roffman are producers. Casey Brooks and Maya Hawke are editors with visual effects by Brian McGee and a score by Mark De Gli Antoni. Dennis Joyce, Phyllis Alexander, Kris Meyer, Antonio Weiss, Susannah Weiss, William R. Hearst III, Toby Barlow, and Bill Deacon are executive producers. For American Masters: Susan Lacy is executive producer. Stephen Segaller is executive-in-charge.

American Masters is made possible by the support of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding for American Masters is provided by Rosalind P. Walter, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, Rolf and Elizabeth Rosenthal, Jack Rudin, Vital Projects Fund, The André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation, and public television viewers. Funding for Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself is provided by Lynn & Rod Poling, Sandra Gotham Meehan and Michael Meehan, David Baldwin, and the National Endowment for the Arts.